Friday 2nd May 2025.
My second Swallow Prominent moth of the year and a first for the garden.
The Moth Box was again switched on overnight as I made the most of this very warm weather. Another warm day ahead today with very little wind to speak of and wall to wall sunshine over Southsea. Yet again, another good haul of moths greeted me early this morning as I was in the garden at 5.40am, though I might have to get up earlier to catch some of the moths before they fly off for somewhere darker to rest. Then it was off to work at Pembroke Road for my first shift of the day. As mentioned yesterday, Pomarine Skua’s are coming through the Solent and another was seen off Hill Head by Mark Francis and consequently seen by another ‘Lazee Birder’, Gary Fennemore off Sandy Point flying high east bound for Selsey Bill. A couple of Swifts went high over my road this morning while I was walking the dogs early this morning, picked up on their familiar ‘screaming’. They truly are back. Brilliant. Emma Parkes had just the one moth in her Fareham Moth Box this morning, the micro moth Mallow Seed Moth.
The Moth Box:
Again, a reasonable haul of moths this morning with the Puss Moth now on the white sheet behind my Moth Box and another great moth, my second Swallow Prominent moth of the year and a ‘1st’ for the garden too. There were just three moths that were new for the year, a Small Dusty Wave, Lime-speck Pug and a micro moth, Dark Moss-moth (Bryotropha affinis). A late Early Grey was unexpected as was a Common Quaker among the 38 moths of 21 species. Another Hoverfly species was in the Moth Box, a Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) and also a Common Wasp.
Above, Lime-speck Pug and below, Small Dusty Wave. Both moths were new for the year.
My Moth Box also attracted a Batman Hoverfly (above) and a Common Wasp (below).
The following moths were recorded this morning:
Macro Moths:
- Puss Moth x1
- Shuttle-shaped Dart x3
- Small Dusty Wave x1
- Brimstone Moth x6
- Swallow Prominent x1
- Garden Carpet x1
- Early Grey x1
- Double-striped Pug x6
- Oak-tree Pug x1
- Vine’s Rustic x2
- Bright-line Brown-eye x1
- Least Black Arches x3
- Angle Shades x1
- Lime-speck Pug x1
- Common Quaker x1
Micro Moths:
- Hourglass Mompha x1
- Ruddy Sreak x2
- Light Brown Apple Moth x2
- Rusty-dot Pearl x1
- Common Plume x1
- Dark Moss-moth x1
Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth:
What I thought were four floating chimneys drifting past the Garrison Church was in fact a boat carrying four very tall tubes. What they were is anyone's guess?
Up to 16 species were recorded on my first shift in Old Portsmouth this morning and probably the best sighting was of a male Sparrowhawk flying low over Governor’s Green. The local Starlings had me scanning the area for a raptor and sure enough, I saw the Sparrowhawk heading towards the Garrison Church before disappearing westbound towards Gosport. A beautiful morning with a clear blue sky (save for a few puffy small white clouds!) in which to keep an eye out for anything interesting. It is going to get a bit warm this afternoon, but I shall be keeping watch over the area during my second shift.
When I got home, it was back up to the shops to grab a few bits for the weekend and a few more plants for the garden from Home Bargains. I decided to plant the plants as soon as possible and then water the garden, while above me, a flock of 7 Swifts were wheeling high in the sky chasing one another and I even managed to grab a few photos of the birds.
Then the news came in from Andy Friend that he had refound the Woodchat Shrike that was seen and photographed by a birder earlier in the day! It was down the Canal Path at Titchfield and fingers crossed, it might just hang around tomorrow. It has been years since I have seen one in Hampshire; a 1st winter bird down near Southmoor. My plans for tomorrow is to do another sea-watch from Gilkicker for possible Pomarine Skua’s. Two were seen today going through the Solent and what with a weather front moving in overnight, it could be quite interesting.
The Woodchat Shrike at Titchfield Canal Path tonight. Photo by Andy Friend.
The Moths did not like getting a watering tonight as I flushed quite a few and the Puss Moth remained faithful all day perched on the white sheet behind my Moth Box. I did also find my first White Ermine moth of the year, but sadly died within a spider's web by my back door. The Moth Box is on again overnight, so it could be another interesting morning.
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